Image via Nintendo
It’s time for a new adventure in Pokopia thanks to the launch of the first paid DLC, “Bubbly Basin.” If you are anything like me, you completed the main storyline shortly after release. While events welcoming new Pokémon have helped pass the time, it hasn’t quite scratched the exploration itch. This is what makes “Bubbly Basin” so exciting – I can finally figure out what is at the bottom of all that water surrounding the beaches.
While you may be eager to jump right into the crystal clear waters beyond Bleak Beach, there are a few things to know before starting “Bubbly Basin” in Pokopia. You’ll find everything you need to get swimming below.
How To Unlock The “Bubbly Basin” in Pokopia
Before we can dive into the DLC story, there are a few prerequisites you will need to complete to unlock “Bubbly Basin”. First, be sure you have purchased the DLC Expansion pass from the Nintendo eShop. The expansion costs $34.99 and contains access to all three planned expansions. You cannot buy each expansion separately.
After you have purchased the expansion, make sure that your version of Pokopia has updated to version 2.0. To do this, enter the menu of your Switch 2 and hit the “+” button while the game is highlighted. This will open the information for the game version.
If an older version is showing, select “Software Update” and then select “Via the Internet”. This will prompt the download to begin immediately as long as there is space on the console’s storage cards.
Once this is done, start the game and make sure you have completed the following requirements:
- You have unlocked Bleak Beach and gotten to Environment Level 5
- You have rebuilt the Bleak Beach Pokémon Center
- You have learned both Jump and Surf
Jump
Jumping is one of the first skills players learn in Pokopia. It is taught by the Magikarp on the beach south of Withered Wastelands’ Pokémon Center.
Surf
Surf is learned from Lapras after building the Tropical Seaside Habitat in the Bleak Beach biome, after completing the main Bleak Beach storyline to the point where Piplup requests Ditto come and take a swim with it.
Once you have spawned Lapras with Piplup’s request active, Lapras will request that you clear 80 mud tiles. After completing this, speak to it again to learn the Surf ability.
It is possible to get to Environment Level 5 without triggering Piplup’s quest if you don’t spend time interacting wth it and Trubbish, so be sure to visit everyone regularly.
After this, you will be ready to start “Bubbly Basin.”
Unlock Dive
The first step in starting the “Bubbly Basin” storyline in Pokopia is unlocking the Dive Ability. Dive is not tethered to the DLC; it is part of a free update that dropped with the 2.0 version of the game. To unlock Dive, you will need to complete Manaphy’s questline added in the free update. Dive gives players access to all underwater areas.
After learning Dive, head to the Pokéon Center in Bleak Beach and speak with Popplio. You will need to dive underwater and head west, where a new gate will be available and open following the quest with Manaphy.
Enter the gate to begin your “Bubbly Basin” journey in Pokopia.
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